What the world is like in 2015 will be a reflection of how developing and developed countries worked together on the MDGs. Ensuring that this collaboration is a success is the objective of Goal 8.

The Millennium Development Goals represent a global partnership for development. The deal makes clear that it is the primary responsibility of developing countries to work towards achieving the first seven Goals. They must do their part to ensure greater accountability and efficient use of resources. But for developing countries to achieve the first seven Goals, it is absolutely critical that developed countries deliver on their end of the bargain with more and more effective aid, more sustainable debt relief and fairer trade rules, well in advance of 2015.

Developed countries promised more than thirty years ago to spend 0.7% of their national income on development aid, but so far only five countries have achieved this target (Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Luxembourg). It is time that all developed countries increase their aid effort and set a deadline to achieve 0.7% well in advance of 2015.

only with your voice

how youth are affected and iinvolved

Who will be profiting more from a better world in 2015 but youth? Youth in developed countries can put pressure on their governments to increase spending and support on the MDGs. It's a fact that young people in developed countries have more privilege and opportunities, and are also more socially, environmentally, and politically conscious than their parents' generation. Goal 8 is the only Goal to specifically mention youth; one of the targets is to increase job opportunities for young people. In a report released by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in 2004, youth unemployment was recorded at an all time high. Half the world's jobless is between 15 and 24 years of age - this represents 88 million young people without work in 2003. The time to act is now! Here's what governments need to do to take action on youth employment (as recommended in the Youth and the MDGs report available in our Youth in Policy section): Create flexible employment opportunities for youth, especially those at-risk; work to secure decent working conditions for all young people; and when creating employment and revising current employment policies, ensure that jobs are meaningful, contribute to creation of more just and sustainable communities, and reinforce self-esteem and self worth of young people.

How would you get involved? Visit our Action page for ideas that suit you!

Donors should focus aid on achieving the MDGs in developing countries that need it and improve the quality of their aid by simplifying requirements for recipients. Requiring developing countries to buy products made only in donor countries is counter-productive to the growth of developing economies. What's more, developed countries need to further open their markets for products made by poor people in developing countries.

Present trade policies discriminate against developing countries and hurt their chances to participate in the global economy. Three-quarters of the world's most disadvantaged—900 million people—live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Developed countries agricultural subsidies lead to worldwide overproduction that depresses world prices and destroy markets developing farmers depend on.

Many developing countries are also burdened with debt. Debt should be cancelled so that developing countries can invest in primary health and education and other sectors needed to achieve the MDGs.